Lighting fixture



May 9, 1939- F. 'c'. wlNKLER 2,157,945

LIGHT ING FIXTURE FiledA March 5, 19364 INVENTOR 6. M2M/ff:

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTING FIXTURE Pennsylvania Application March 5, 1936, Serial No. 67,236

4 Claims.

The invention relates, generally, to lighting fixtures, and, more particularly, to lighting fixtures of the indoor type which are commonly termed semi-indirect xtures and which function to produce a large amount of indirect illumination.

The object of my invention, generally stated., is to provide a semi-indirect lighting fixture which shall be of simple and economical construction,

l0 highly eicient in operation and which may be utilized to produce economical illumination for general commercial applications.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved semi-indirect lighting xture which will eiciently produce a large amount of indirect illumination and which embodies all of the desirable characteristics of a semi-indirect lighting fixture.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lighting fixture wherein a portion of the light from the source is utilized to illuminate the outside oi the reflector to give it the appearance of a semi-indirect fixture without reducing its efficiency as an indirect lighting fixture.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for illuminating the outside surfaces of a semi-indirect lighting fixture by utilizing a combination reflecting and diffusing element as the bottom portion of the reilector and covering this element with a diffusing bowl adapted to direct a suflicient amount of light upon the outside surface of the reflector to give it the desired illuminated appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel hanger element for a lighting xture which is of simple construction and easily assembled and installed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a hanger especially adapted for semiindirect fixtures and which interferes to a minimum extent with the reilected light and the light from the lamp itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger assembly comprising a minimum number of parts which may be economically manufactured and assembled These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when the following detailed description is 5o read in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an eleavtional View partly in section of a lighting fixture embodying the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the upper or swivel end of the hanger shown in Fig. 1;

(Cl. Z110-78) Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lower or socket end of the hanger; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the swivel shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the preferred 5 embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 1 comprises, generally, a hanger III and the reflector assembly il supported by the hanger.

The hanger IU comprises a supporting stem l2 which is secured at its upper end to a one- 10 piece swivel element I3 provided with a threaded portion I4 for attachment to a suitable ceiling fitting, not shown.

The swivel I3 at itslower end is provided with a knob portion I5 about which the enlarged end 1 5 of the stem I2 is crimped or otherwise secured, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the knob portion I5 is provided with a keyway I6 which receives the key portion Il of the stem to prevent relative rotational movement between the swivel 20 and stem but which does not interfere with the pivotal movement therebetween.

The hanger I0 is provided with a ceiling canopy i8 of any suitable shape or design which may be supported in position by a canopy nut I9 which 25 engages the threaded portion 2| of the swivel.

The socket 22 for supporting the lamp 23 is secured to the lower end of the stem I2 by means of a socket cap 24 to which the socket 22 may be attached by screws 25 and which may be se- 30 cured to the lower end of the stern I2 in any suitable manner preferably by a threaded oonnection 26 as shown in Fig. 3. The socket cap or adapter 24 may be locked to the stem I2 by means of a set screw 20. 35

It will be observed that the socket cap 24 is provided with an upper flange portion 2l above its threaded portion, which slips up over the stem I2 to completely conceal the threaded portion thereof. 40

A husk element 28 is provided for covering the socket 22 and socket cap 24 and for supporting the reflector assembly II. As shown, the husk 28 is provided with a curved flange portion 29 which rests upon a curved surface 3l] of the socket cap. 45 In this instance, the husk 28 is retained in position by a ring nut 3| which engages the threaded portion 32 of the socket cap, as shown best in Fig. 3, which clamps the flanged portion of the husk securely upon the rounded shoulder portion 30 of the socket cap.

As shown, the swivel element I3 and socket cap 24 are of hollow construction in order to provide, in conjunction with the stem I2, a suitable conduit for the supply conductors 40.

In this embodiment of the invention, the reilector assembly Il comprises generally a reflecting basin 33 and a bowl element 34. The basin 33 is preferably composed of metal and in this instance takes the form of an inverted truncated cone, the inside of which is provided with a reflecting surface. The basin is preferably drawn from aluminum sheet and the outsideV thereof given a satin flnish. The inside, or reflecting surface, may be given a matte ilnish to provide a Wide coverage of light on the ceiling or other surface and may also be treated in any desired manner to provide for greater permanence and to simplify cleaning. The basin 33 is open at the top and is also provided with a bottom opening of smaller diameter. The outside surface of the basin may be provided with any ilnish necessary to give the desired outward appearance.

In order Yto provide for suitably illuminating the bowl element 34, the bottom opening of the reflecting basin is provided with asuitable cover or reflecting disc 35 which functions as a combination light reflecting and transmitting element. In this instance, the bottom cover 35 is composed of thick homogeneous glass having a smooth inner surface and a roughened outer surface produced by means of concentric prisms 36 in order to provide greater reflectivity and lower surface brightness. The inside surface of the cover 35 ispreferably white, while the outside surface may be made of any desired color to, in turn, produce the desired color effect on the basin 33.

The characteristics and shape of the cover or disc 35 are such as to redirect or reflect approximately of the incident light and to transmit approximately 10% to the bowl 34 to give it the desired illuminated appearance. The bowl 34 is preferably` shaped to reflect or redirect a portion of the light transmitted by the disc 35 upon the outside surface of the basin 33. In this instance, this is effected by forming the bowl 34 of translucent glassand giving it an effective diameter greater than the diameter of the bottom opening in the reflector.

The bottom cover or disc 35 is provided with a suitable flange portionY 31 which rests upon a flanged portion 38 of the basin 33 and thus is supported directly by the basin. The bowl 34, which completely covers the bottom opening, may be secured in position in any suitable manner such, for example, as by means of a supporting bolt 39 which extends through a central opening in the cover 35 and an ornamental nut 4l which engages the bottom of the bowl. The opening in the bowl 34 is of such diameter as to engage the lower side of the flange 38 on the basin in such manner that when the nut 4l is tightened, the cover 35 and bowl 34 are clamped securely to the bottom of the basin 33, thus making the entire assembly light tight at the joints.

'I'he reflector assembly Il may be supported from the hanger I2 by means of suitable supporting rods 42 interposed between basin 33 and the husk 2l, as shown.

vIn view of the foregoing, it is apparent that the'greater part of the illumination produced by this unit is totally indirect illumination and only sufficient light is transmitted through the bottom cover to provide for illuminating the outside surface of the unit to such an extent as to give it the general appearance of a lighting flxture of the usual semi-indirect type. In this manner, the fixture is given a high operating eiliciency and at the same time, a highly ornamental and pleasing outward appearance is produced.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein, and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes vand modiflcations that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lighting unit comprising a reflector having a bottom opening provided with an inwardly extending supporting flange, a translucent reflecting and diffusing cover plate for the bottom opening resting on and supported by said flange, i

a translucent bowl positioned beneath the reflector over the bottom opening and engaging the bottom edge of the flange, and means for clamping the cover plate and bowl together upon the supporting flange on the reflector.

2, A lighting unit comprising a reflector having a bottom opening provided with an inturned supporting flange, a combination light reflecting and transmitting glass cover for the bottom opening resting on and supported by said flange, a

translucent bowl having the same general contour as the reflector positioned beneath the reflector and'enclosing the cover, and means for detachably supporting the bowl from the cover with the edge of its opening in engagement with the reflector flange.

3. A lighting unit comprising a hanger, a socket supported by the hanger, a reflector of opaque material supported from the hanger, Ysaid reflector having top and bottom openings, the bottom opening having an inwardly extending flange, a light reflecting and diffusing cover member for closing the bottom opening supported by said ange and extending below the bottom edge of the reflector, a translucent bowl having an opening conforming in shape to the bottom opening of the reflector, and means for detachably supporting the bowl below the reflector with the edge of its opening in engagement withthe bottom of the flange on the reflector.

4. A lighting unit comprising a hanger, a socket supported by the hanger, a reflectorfof'opaque material supported from the hanger, said reflector having top and bottom openings, the bottom opening having inwardly extending supporting means, a light reflecting and diffusing cover member for closing the bottom opening supported by said means and extending below the bottom edge of the reflector, a translucent bowl having an opening conforming in shape to the bottom opening of the reflector, and means for connecting said bowl to said cover and detachably supporting the bowl below the reflector withV the edge of its opening in engagement with the bottom of the flrst mentioned supporting means on the reflector.

FREDERIC C. WINKLER. 

